The Most Important Year of My Life

December 30, 2011 2 Comments

Rare are the moments when what happens next will influence the rest of your life.

But that’s exactly where my life is today. It’s both exciting, and frightening. After years of being in the classroom, I finally graduated last week. I guess that means I’m a scientist. (Weird.) And now that I’m a scientist, at least in my education, it’s time to change the world. How, exactly, I go about doing that is yet to be determined.

Even though I’ve graduated, I’m enrolled in classes for Spring semester. I haven’t had much luck (any luck) finding a job (any job.) Instead of hanging around the apartment feeling sorry for myself, I’m going to use that time to further my education. There were some classes that I didn’t have an opportunity to take before graduation, and now that I have the time, it’d be a waste not to use it to my benefit.

Enrolling in classes isn’t without problems. If I receive an invitation to serve in the Peace Corps, I may have to drop out of school as early as April. But that’s only if I receive an invitation, and my departure date isn’t delayed for any reason. I’ve heard horror stories about that. At this point, I still have to submit what I hope will be the last of my medical information, which I expect will be mailed out within a couple of weeks. I still have one appointment before the paperwork is complete.

For a while I questioned whether the Peace Corps was the right choice for me at this point in my life. I think it is. An opportunity like this rarely presents itself…I’d be a fool to turn it down. And after writing a research paper about the connection between poverty and the environment in Tanzania, I feel like I have a better understanding of the types of issues I might be dealing with during my time in Africa. Knowledge is power! And now that I know more about the problems, I feel empowered to do my part to help. I might not be able to save the world, but I can help dig a well, or build a school.

Two years is a long time, and I know it’ll put a strain on my relationship with Erin. How could it not? Long distance relationships are notorious for problems. As much as I’d like to think our relationship is strong enough to weather the time apart, I don’t take it for granted that we’re not immune from the same problems other couples face. That said, I really think that if anyone can do it, we can.

In the meantime, until I hear something from the Peace Corps, I’ll continue looking for work. My job search will be limited to jobs that I wouldn’t have any issue quitting at the drop of a hat. It’d be a lot more difficult to quit a job I went to school for, and those are the kinds of bridges I’m not willing to burn, even for the Peace Corps.

And if none of the above works out, I’ll begin applying for graduate school. My school of choice is the University of Denver where I’d study Environmental Science, and specialize in Environmental Health. If I can get in. This would knock out Goal #63) Attend college in another state.

What’s all of this mean for my goals over the next year? A lot. If I’m not living in Africa in a few months, 2012 will be the year of climbing. If I am living in Africa, 2012 will be the year of climbing. Next year I’d like to climb Mount Whitney, Devil’s Tower, Kilimanjaro, and Ancient Art. I’d like to spend some time in Yosemite this summer…climbing.

I thought I’d get to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon last July, but it didn’t work out. This year I’ll get my permit application submitted earlier than two weeks in advance. I’d also like to visit the last few states of America, and finally visit all 50. Alaska will be the most difficult, but who knows…it could happen. Anything is possible.

Are you looking forward to what the future has in store for you?

Filed under 50 States, Career, Education, Employment, Environment, Goals, Graduate School, Graduation, Life, Peace Corps, Preparation, Travel, Updates, Yosemite Tagged with ,

The Life You’ve Always Wanted?

August 8, 2010 10 Comments

We all have our ideas of what the “perfect life” would be like but often the images in our mind are a far cry from the reality we are living.  If you were able to travel back in time and ask a younger version of yourself if this is the future they’d choose for themselves, what would their answer be?  Twenty years ago, could you have envisioned the life you have today?  Is it everything you’d imagined or have your dreams evaporated into thin air?

Chances are, the life you are living today is nothing like the life you expected to have.  You sold your ideals for a dollar bill.  Why?  “Because that’s just what adults do.” We have to make a living to pay the bills.  There’s food to buy and television to watch.  How are we supposed to save the world when we’re up to our eyeballs in debt?  The mortgage isn’t going to pay for itself, is it?

“It is what it is.” There’s no time for dreams.  Dreams don’t pay the bills or put food on the table.  Our younger selves didn’t understand what it meant to be adults.  We have obligations now and we’ve built our lives around some idea of what it means to be a “responsible adult” in today’s world.  What we ended up with is a career that steals our time and energy, a mortgage that drains our income and debt from all the Stuff we bought to furnish and decorate our home.  We have many thousands of dollars in Student Loans and a couple of cars to pay for.  Oh yeah, and the credit cards…

It looks like being an adult isn’t all that we’ve been led to believe.  All of our lives we’ve been told that adults are “responsible”, implying that it’s somehow more virtuous to fall in line and follow the leader than it is to follow our youthful ambitions.  The “responsible” thing to do is find a job, get married and have children, buy a house and a couple of cars, then keep your nose to the grindstone until it’s finally time to retire.  When that day does come, we hope that our health will last long enough to enjoy the life of our dreams; the life we’ve been waiting our whole life to live.

And what has it all amounted to?  A garage full of Stuff we never really needed in the first place, kids that seem to resent our very existence unless we’re buying them something, a spouse that we barely seem to know anymore and a huge house we aren’t able to enjoy because we are at the office earning a paycheck to pay the mortgage.

Sure, we have all the Stuff we could ever imagine.  We drive nice cars and wear nice clothes.  Our home is decorated like a magazine cover and on the weekends we are able to relax with a cold beer in the backyard.  On the surface things seem wonderful.  A little deeper though and things don’t look as good anymore.

What are we sacrificing to create this image of the “perfect” life?  Our time, our energy, our sanity?  If the average person starts working fresh out of college at the age of 22 and retires at 67, that’s 45 years of life sold for a dollar bill.  We’re trading our life to fill our garage with junk, for a heap of metal to take us to a job so that we can pay for that same heap of metal.

What if there were a different way?  What if you didn’t have to spend your entire life working?  Would you do it?  If you knew that in 10 years you could be financially able to walk away from your job with enough money to pay for all your expenses, would you have the ambition to make it happen?

There is a way, it is possible!  The only problem – of course there’s a problem – is that to get there, you have to minimize your spending and save.  “But that’s Un-American!” Our entire lives we’ve been told to “get out there and boost the economy.”  After the attacks on September 11 we were told to go shopping as a way to stand up against terrorism.  Does that mean we’re supporting terrorism by saving money?  Of course not!

What I’m talking about isn’t a new concept.  It isn’t impossible.  It’s been done before and it’ll be done again.  And not just by a few outliers but by many thousands of people.  Will you be one of them???

What’s the secret?

Live Frugally: Cut your expenses to the bone.  Anything that doesn’t offer real value to your life is out.  That might mean going without a contracted cell phone, cable television, TiVo or Netflix.  Find alternatives or other ways to occupy your time.  It may seem impossible now but you can live without these things.

Get Out of Debt: You can’t be financially independent when you’re in debt.  Get out, get out, get out! By adopting a frugal lifestyle, the extra money you’re able to save can be applied towards eliminating your debt.  After you’ve saved up enough money to cover six months of living expenses, every penny should be thrown at your debt.

Save: Once you’ve paid off the last of your debt it’s time to save like never before.  It may take you a few years, maybe even ten or 15, to save enough money to become financially independent but that’s better than 45 years!

Invest: This is where the magic is!  With the money you’ve saved, you can invest it into conservative investment vehicles which will pay you interest in fixed intervals over a specific length of time.  If you’ve saved and invested enough, this interest will cover all of your monthly expenses.  Now your money is working for you, not the other way around!

If you’d like to learn more about the process outlined above, I recommend checking out the book Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez.

Filed under Book Reviews, Budgeting, Career, Consumerism, Debt, Employment, Family, Freedom, Frugality, Goals, Investing, Lifestyle Engineering, Money, Opportunity, Potential, Preparation, Prioritizing, Retirement, Savings, Spending

What is Your Master Plan?

November 21, 2009 Leave a comment

"Sail boat" by Nuno Vasco Rodrigues @ Flickr

Without goals, our lives are like a ship without sails.  The winds of potential blow strong against our mast but with no sail to capture the energy we are left stationary, floating quietly with no command over the direction the waves push us.

Having goals allows us to hoist our sails high into the air and in an instant we are skipping across the surface of the water.  Our sails are filled with energy from the wind and our eyes are focused on the sliver of land that has just peaked out from the ocean blue.  Our destination comes into focus and as we arrive upon the shore we have learned a powerful lesson; if we create goals and harness our ambition & passion, we will realize our dreams.

If we are ships upon the sea with no focus or direction, what can we do to raise our sails and capture the wind?

Something I don’t spend much time discussing is the power of long-term goals.  My list of 100 Goals consists mostly of milestone accomplishments, things that once accomplished can be crossed off the list.  Crossing a goal off the list is a moment of satisfaction; knowing that I’ve done something great and meaningful in my life but once that goal is crossed off, it is done.  The moment has passed & I am looking forward to the next milestone that I can work towards accomplishing.

While I wouldn’t change any of the experiences I’ve had in using this method to accomplish my goals, the question that begs to be answered is this: “What happens when I have accomplished everything I want to do in my life?  What will I be left with?”

The answer is to have a Master Plan; a series of successive goals that will ultimately lead to what we envision our Perfect Life to be.  A Master Plan requires knowing where you want your life to be and figuring out a way to get there from where you are today.   It requires you to be proactive and take intentional steps in order to make your plan a reality.  It requires discipline, determination and flexibility.

Creating Your Master Plan

Too often we find ourselves ignoring our dreams of a Perfect Life because we tell ourselves that they are not grounded in reality.  Before we allow our desires to blossom into anything more than a passing thought, we stifle ourselves.  We are blocking our own success and happiness.  There will always be a reason why we “can’t” do something and now it is time to ignore those excuses and begin to create your Master Plan.

Close your eyes and envision your Perfect Life.  What do you see?  Are you working with panda bears in a sanctuary?  Are you backpacking the Appalachian Trail?  Maybe you are relaxing in your backyard drinking lemonade watching your children playing on the swing set.  No matter what you see, you have found your destination.  Now it is time to figure out how you will get there.

Usually at this point you would push your dreams aside with thoughts of “reality”, all the reasons why you are unable to pursue your dreams.  I want you to consider all of these excuses about why you can’t follow your dream but I need you to change your perspective.  Instead of using them as reasons why you can’t follow your dream, think of them as challenges to beat.  Don’t use them as an excuse any longer.  Use them as motivation.  Instead of feeling overwhelmed, find a way to overcome these challenges.  Your plan should be ambitious yet realistic.

The next phase in accomplishing your Master Plan is to figure out what steps you must take in order to position yourself to make your dream possible.  Will your Perfect Life require a career change?  Do you need to further your education? If your Perfect Life requires you to get a degree or certificate, enroll in classes, even if that means taking one class a semester for the time being.  If you need to change your career, start submitting resumes and begin networking with people who are in the field that you want to break into.  Prepare to Quit Your Job.

Ultimately, your Master Plan is about having a long-term goal to pursue while using short-term goals as a means for making progress towards your Perfect Life.  A Master Plan is not something that happens overnight.  My own Master Plan has been in the works for nearly 5 years, and I am only now really beginning to fully understand what it is that I want in my own life.  Progress is slow but steady and each day is a new opportunity.  Today is your opportunity to make a change in your life, an opportunity to start working towards your Perfect Life.  No more excuses, no more hesitation.  Today is the first day of the rest of your life.  You decide what that means for you.

Filed under Behavior, Career, Education, Employment, Goals, Motivation, Passion, Potential, Preparation, Success

Social Networking 2.0

July 23, 2009 Leave a comment

Does Social Networking Really Work?I recently wrote an article titled “Why Social Networking Doesn’t Work“.  Since publishing that article I have received a lot of feedback about how I am missing the point of social networking; that networking is an integral part of career advancement.  These people offer anecdotal evidence as a way to persuade my viewpoint, as if they cannot fathom the thought of neglecting such an important aspect of professional development.

They are right.  It would be ignorant to think that social networking isn’t essential to a person’s ability to climb the corporate ladder.  I cannot discount the benefits networking offers.  Where my opinion separates from common wisdom is how we network; shaking hands of complete strangers, collecting business cards, exchanging fleeting conversations.  It seems so sterile, so impersonal.

This isn’t to say that there isn’t value in this sort of networking, it just isn’t for me.  I feel that forming real relationships with people will net greater results in the long run than attempting cold calls with people whom you have no established affiliation.  Would you really feel comfortable calling a stranger for a favor as big as vouching for you at their workplace?  Would you feel comfortable vouching for that person to your boss?

In addition to forming meaningful relationships, it is important that the relationship be beneficial to both parties.  One person should not always benefit from the other, there needs to be a balance.  “I’ll rub your back & you rub mine.”  By its very nature networking is an exercise in self-interest, though you can create a balance by offering your talents, services, advice or by lending a hand with their lawnmower if it breaks down.  Your good deeds will catch up to you.

[N]etworking is about building relationships, not about collecting business cards in hopes that one of these guys might do you a favor one day.

Where do you meet these people with whom you form meaningful relationships?  If you are seeking professional contacts, people who might be able to open the door to opportunity, begin with people in your profession:

The best jobs that I have had I learned about through a friend or acquaintance who worked in the same field I did or at the company where I got the job.  I don’t believe that I got the job because of my social contact but I did hear about it because of them.  Meeting and getting to know people who are in the same line of work can be one of the best parts of any career and one of the most helpful in a job search…

Networking doesn’t need to be strictly professional.  You can enrich your life by surrounding yourself with people who share a common interest or hobby.  Attend events in your area which are focused on your hobbies, interests & passions and be social.  Your early encounters with these people will likely result in superficial conversations but will eventually deepen with time.

It also seems as though people feel that when it comes to networking, quantity trumps quality.  This is another area where my opinion differs.  Having contacts which you have no relationship with diminishes the value of these contacts.  While it is true that each contains at least a small possibility of opportunity, a few quality contacts are more beneficial to you than those which are of little relevance to your life.

It can be argued that even the most distant contacts, those which you would only contact in “dire need” are valuable.

Had I limited my network, I would have limited my reach.  At the same time…there are people on my list that I would not have contacted…unless the situation became more dire or urgent.

Maybe.  Though I wonder why you would want to call someone only if it were an emergency.  Would these people even be inclined to help you, they barely know you?  Yes, it makes sense to have a “last ditch contact” in case things get really bad but I would guess that having a few good friends as contacts would prevent that sort of situation from ever arising.

Does social networking work?  Yes.  Are we going about it all wrong?  Maybe.  Does collecting business cards from complete strangers actually work?  You tell me.

Filed under Career, Networking

Your Real Wage

April 30, 2009 4 Comments

"Empty Pockets" by National Collegiate Scouting Association @ FlickrWhen someone asks you how old you are, the answer is simple.  All you need to do is figure out how long you have been alive.  You may have heard of the website Real Age where you can calculate “the biological age of your body, based on how well you’ve maintained it.”  Based on this information, your body may actually be younger or older.  It is an interesting idea to the concept of age and it makes a lot of sense.  If you’ve ever seen someone who doesn’t take care of themselves, it is clear how time can weather a person.

What about when you are asked how much you earn?  Your default answer may be your gross annual wage, but is this an accurate representation of your real wage?  I have been reading a book by the title of “Your Money or Your Life” and it is in this book where I originally encountered the concept of real wage.

By considering what the authors of “Your Money or Your Life” say about real wage, I’ve decided that it isn’t so simple as stating your annual or hourly wage.  There are countless factors which need to be considered.  When calculating real wage, we need to consider the following:

The first deduction from our earnings comes in the form of taxes.  We have state taxes, Federal taxes, and FICA taxes.  These taxes represent a large portion of your earnings.  Just how large of a portion?  To help emphasize this point, in 2009 the average American worker will have to work until April 13 in order to pay their tax burden.  That’s right.  All the money you’ve earned for the past 4 1/2 months belongs to Uncle Sam.  You are working for free.  Isn’t that a wonderful thought?

Aside from taxes, something most people don’t consider is how much time is spent outside of work for work related activities.  How much time is spent preparing for work and commuting?   We brush our teeth, take a shower, comb our hair, put on make-up, get dressed, take the children to daycare.  We accept these things as being a regular part of life, but is that the reality?  Obviously we must maintain basic hygiene, but ask yourself, “Do you spend just as much time preparing for the day on the weekends?” 

What about commuting?  How much time do you spend going to and from work?  Many people have significant commutes and may travel an hour or more to and from work.  Maybe you fight rush hour traffic.  This is time spent directly towards work, which you aren’t getting paid for.    This time needs to be considered when you are figuring your real wage.

Many people need time to decompress from work.  This includes anything you may do in order to wind down from your day.  Maybe you stop at the pub after work or like to relax on the sofa while you zone out in front of the television.  What about taking an expensive vacation in order to “get away”?  All of these activities we engage in in order to decompress require time or energy.  Again, this is time which is directly related to work and should be factored into our real wage.

Time isn’t the only thing which should be considered.  We must consider all of the “insignificant” expenses that are directly related to our work.  Here are some things to consider when figuring out the out of pocket costs directly related to your work:

How much money do you spend on gasoline and oil changes for your car?  How much wear and tear to your vehicle is a result of your commuting to and from work? 

Do you need to follow a certain dress code which requires you to purchase office clothes?  How much money do you spend maintaining a wardrobe which is primarily worn at work?

Do you purchase beverages while on your break?  Do you go out for  lunch at the deli down the street? 

Do you spend money on child care expenses so that you can work? 

Have you ever been obligated to contribute money for a co-worker who is having a baby even though you’ve never had a conversation with her outside of the office?

Obviously calculating your real age can be complex.  There are many factors and variables that must be considered.  I encourage you to figure out how much time you spend preparing for work and commuting as well as the expenses associated with your employment.  You might be surprised by the results.

Filed under Employment, Money

You’ve Been Laid Off- Now What?

April 21, 2009 Leave a comment

If you have not received notice of a layoff, I recommend reading this article about what you can do in order to get your finances in order now to prepare yourself for future hardships.  If you are looking for ideas about how to improve your odds of protecting yourself against being laid off, check out this article.

What if it is too late for preparation and you have already lost your job or will be in the near future?  What can you do to improve your situation?

"Fog Laden Trail" by luketallguy @ FlickrThe first step you need to take is to enroll in unemployment benefits as soon as possible.  It takes time to get your claim set up and ready to pay out, so doing this as early as possible is a good idea.  While unemployment benefits do not replace 100% of your income from your job, it will supplement your savings so that you can pay the bills.

Now that your income is reduced and you will be living off of savings and unemployment, your budget needs to be updated.  Once you have figured out how much money you will be receiving through unemployment as well as how much you can afford to withdraw from your savings account, set up a budget that reflects this lower income.

With your reduced income you should be thinking about ways that you can cut your expenses.  Here are some quick ways to reduce your expenses by $100 or more each month:

     -Eliminate text messaging from your cell phone

     -Discontinue your cable & Internet services

     -Sell your liabilities (the extra car, motorcycle, boat, time share)

One of the most important things that you should do is to roll-over your 401(k) into an IRA account.  There is nothing worse than cashing out your retirement savings for a couple of different reasons.  The first is the tax consequences of taking a distribution.  You will be responsible for paying taxes on the money as well as an early withdrawal fee, equal to 10% of the account balance.  By taking this money now, you are throwing money away.  Another reason not to withdrawal this money is that you can’t make up for the lost time.  Check out this article about the power of compounding interest to get an idea of how a small amount of money can mushroom to a significant amount of money given a little time.  You’ve already planted the seed, nurture it and let it grow.

You will have plenty of time on your hands after you’ve been laid off so use that time to your advantage and update your resume.  As a laid off employee, you may be eligible for resume workshops through your local Job Center.  Take advantage of these services.

Now would also be a great time to further your education.  Enroll in a community college and work towards earning a degree.  Even if you aren’t sure what you want to go to school for, take your general courses so that you can begin on the path towards earning a degree.  If you are not interested in earning a degree, find out about auditing classes.  Educating yourself is the best thing you can do for yourself.  Future employers will respond to someone who works to better themselves, and school is a powerful way to do that.

Don’t forget to look towards your social network for support.  Take the time to focus on the relationships and build upon them to make them better and stronger.  Your friends are the most valuable asset and resource in your life; don’t forget to invest in them.

Finally, remember that even though you have been laid off, you have the right to enjoy yourself.  Get out and have some fun with your free time.  Follow your passions and enjoy your hobbies.  Don’t spend the entire time feeling sorry for yourself while you sit on the sofa watching television.  Enjoy your time away from the daily grind and enjoy your life!

 

Filed under Employment

Why Social Networking Doesn’t Work

April 19, 2009 7 Comments

"Handshake" by galleryquantum @ FlickrThere are countless websites discussing the proper way of networking and how to use those contacts to your advantage.  For many people these tips are garbage.  On a very basic level, they may be useful but for the vast majority of folks, networking in the typical sense of the word doesn’t apply.

There are social groups which host events at which people get together for the sole purpose of meeting strangers in order to expand their “network”.  Introductions are made, hands are shook and business cards are exchanged.  The people participating in these events will add their new “contact” to their list for the possibility of needing that person for something in the future.

I don’t like that idea of networking.  It doesn’t work for me and I would guess that it doesn’t work for the vast majority of people.  There is something impersonal about all of this.  People collect contact information, make a note on the back of the card about who the person is and then if they ever need something from this person, they give them a call.

If there were someone with whom I had encountered in passing and then months later received a phone call from asking for a favor, I wouldn’t be inclined to help.  Maybe it is just me, but that isn’t what networking is all about.  In some circles this may be acceptable and expected, but I would rather form relationships with people, make friends and share hobbies and interests with people before I would consider asking them for any sort of favor or help.

The other day I was wasting time on Facebook and I realized that I had “friends” that I never talked to and hadn’t seen in years.  They were old classmates and though I had spoke with them in the past, I hadn’t in years and having them on Facebook didn’t seem necessary anymore.  Most networking advice would say that having a lot of connections on Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn would be a great thing, something which is desirable.  Not I.  I began clicking the delete button and went from over 150 friends down to 30.  By some people’s standards, I had just committed social suicide.

I look at it differently.  Those 120 people who I deleted were not contacts.  They were not friends.  They were simply people with whom my path had crossed.  The 30 people left on my profile are people with whom I have real relationships and are part of my life in some way.  Just 1 of these 30 contacts is more meaningful and beneficial to me than all of the other 120 people combined because these are people that I know I could call up and ask for anything and they would do whatever they could in order to give their help, advice or time.

That is the beauty of the way I look at networking.  My idea of networking is forming relationships, bonds and connections, not just gathering as many phone numbers as I can in case I may need to make a cold call in time of need.  With my contacts, no matter how rough the seas may become during my journey of life, I know I can count on these people for anything.  Maybe in times like these it is time to reconsider our networking approach and get back to the basics of building friendships with people you have something in common with.

Here are some of my networking tips:

1) Introduce yourself- The first step to forming relationships is to introduce yourself.  A great way of doing this is through mutual friends.  You can also attend events which you are interested in and introduce yourself to people at these events.  You already know you have something in common, maybe a hobby or passion. 

2) Be a friend- If you want friends you need to be a friend.  What does it mean to be a friend?  See 3 and 4.

3) Spend time together- Once you have developed a connection with someone you need to take time to do something together.  Invite them over for a barbecue or organize a softball game at a local park.  Use a common interest or hobby as a reason to get together.

4) Give- Networking and making friends isn’t just about you and how you can benefit from the relationship.  You should be willing to lend a hand or offer advice in a time of need.  If you are only considering yourself, people will see through that and you will be left in the cold.

Networking isn’t about how many contacts you can collect, it is about how meaningful and lasting those connections are.  One good contact can be worth 100 poor contacts.  Not only will they help you in a time of need, but will also bring you companionship in life.

Filed under Networking

Unemployment

April 18, 2009 3 Comments

"Mountain Mist" by D L Ennis @ FlickrI have been discussing the possibility of being laid off for quite some time and finally the day came on Thursday.  When I arrived at work I was tipped off before I ever even made it in the door that there was another layoff, this time affecting 54 people.  This meant that I would be on the list of those being let go.  My supervisor told me that I would need to meet with an HR representative to go over some information concerning the layoff process and benefits.

The volume of our work has dropped significantly and future orders are anemic.  The company announced a cost savings initiative which included reduced salaries, shortened work weeks and the company suspended its 401(k) match.  Further layoffs should not have come as a surprise for anyone, but for many it was.

I have been preparing myself for this moment for quite some time and have been making as many steps as possible in order to get my finances in order to minimize the impact of a layoff on my life.  I stepped up my debt reduction plan and managed to eliminate my credit card debt by the end of February.  At the same time, I built up my savings and Emergency Fund however, my savings account was drained as a result of automobile maintenance.

Fortunately I will be eligible for unemployment benefits while I finish out my last couple of weeks of school.  I still have intentions of relocating in order to further my education in a few months.  Although my income will be slashed, I have reduced my expenses significantly and will be able to save some money to help finance the trip.

Despite the reduced income, there is a bright side to all of this; time.  I will be able to focus my attention on school as my final exams are fast approaching and having more time to study will give me more opportunity to pass my classes with high marks.  I am currently carrying an A- average in my classes, so I hope to be able to keep this average through until the end.  It would be nice to complete my Associate Degree on a high note.

More time will also allow me to pursue other areas of interest such as reading, exercising, bicycling, and hiking.  My schedule now does not allow for much free time to focus on these areas.  I have some arrangements to do some traveling in Central America in order to practice my Spanish.  Despite being unemployed and out of school it is crucial that I continue to improve my skills and abilities in order to make myself more marketable. 

I have a fundamental belief that life is not about a dollar bill but rather our experiences, so while I won’t have as much money as before, I don’t feel as though this is the end of the world.  Quite the contrary, I feel that it is a great opportunity to realign myself and set out on a new journey, one that will ultimately lead me to a life of doing what makes me happy, which I haven’t been happy in my current position for quite some time.

I wrote yesterday about how we are slaves to the dollar, and I am not an exception.  Having a steady income was able to provide me a comfortable lifestyle, with nice things, but I was dissatisfied with my job.  I was burning out.  Being let go is a relief in many ways.  For those people who have been laid off, I encourage you to do what you can to find a silver lining in all of this.

Now would be a good time to re-evaluate your spending plan.  Create a new budget and trim the fat so that you are able to survive.  It may take some sacrifice, and for some people it may seem more like triage, but it is an opportunity to refocus your priorities and find what is truly important in life.  After a while I believe that money won’t be the primary concern, but rather happiness and satisfaction will be the driving force that motivates our decisions.

Filed under Economy, Employment, Money

Master of Our Own Slavery

April 17, 2009 6 Comments

"Old Slave Bell" by Schalk Marais @ FlickrIn the not so distant past there was a distinct line between the slave and his or her master.  The slave was considered to be less than human, more closely related to the horse or oxen than to a human being.  They were there to harvest the crops and tend to the chores around the home.  Eventually, common sense prevailed and slavery was abolished, however slavery continues today in a more subtle form and of our own making.  We have become the slave and the master.

Everyday throughout this country, people force themselves to show up for work at a job they loathe.  They do it because they feel as though they have to.  There is no other choice than to suffer through another day, another week, in order to get that paycheck in their hands so they can put food on the table, a roof over their head and clothes on their back.

What people fail to realize is that their money isn’t being spent only on basic necessities such as food, shelter and clothes.  We buy expensive cars, motorcycles, boats, flat-screen televisions, iPods, iPhones, CDs, DVDs, Blue Ray, green rays, plasma rays, death rays, fast food, Aqua Globes, Snuggies, gym memberships, touch screen car stereos, vacations, shopping sprees, designer jeans, perfume, cologne, teeth whitening systems…

If we didn’t buy all of this unnecessary Stuff, just how much less time would we need to be slaves in a job where we are unhappy solely for the purpose of financing all of the things we buy but don’t actually need?  I live a pretty basic life today compared to how I used to.  Sure, I still spend money and enjoy my life, but I do it more responsibly.  I think about how I am spending my money and how it will affect my future.  I consider whether or not what I am purchasing will add value to my life or if it will end up on eBay or a landfill before I buy it.  I used to blow my entire paycheck buying things like DVDs and CDs.  I didn’t have a penny saved, but I had a lot of Stuff sitting around my apartment, collecting dust.  At least I had something to show for all of my hard work, right?

While I did have a lot of things as a result of my ability to spend frivolously, none of it added value to my life.  I may have been entertained while watching a movie, but wouldn’t I have been just as entertained had I rented it or borrowed it from a friend?  Of course I would have and I would have saved myself about $15 in the process, but I wouldn’t have anything to show for my work.

Every single week of my life I have $82 withdrawn from my checking account to make my car payment.  That is money that I never see, it is just gone;  $328 in after tax money each month.  That is over 33 hours worth of work just to pay for a car (net income divided by a 40 hour work week), which is used primarily to take me to work.  Sweet irony.

Many people don’t consider how much money they actually bring home.  A person may gross $40,000 a year but thanks to Federal Taxes, State Taxes, FICA, medical and dental insurance, 401(k) contributions, alimony and whatever else a person may have deducted from their earnings, their checks don’t amount to $40,000 at the end of the year.  People rationalize to themselves that buying a $20 DVD is only an hour and a half of work, but in reality is more than that because you are paying with after tax dollars.

We are spending ourselves into a situation where we really do need that job that we hate so much because now we have a mortgage, a car loan, consumer credit card debt and we keep spending more and more on things we don’t need.  We are the masters to our own slavery.  Until we are able to break ourselves of these spending habits we will continue to rely on a job that doesn’t make us happy.  We will continue to shuffle our feet through the door of a company which doesn’t allow the personal freedom or creativity we desire in a job.

We may as well be pulling a plow across the earth like our ancestors.  The major difference between then and now is there wasn’t a choice in the past but today there is, and we are our own masters.  Whenever you feel like it is time to break free from the chains of slavery, you are in control to make that decision.  The more debt you accumulate and each dollar you waste is another day of slavery.  It doesn’t need to be that way…break free.

Filed under Consumerism, Debt, Employment, Freedom, Motivation, Prioritizing, Savings, Spending

Life After a Layoff

April 16, 2009 Leave a comment

Layoffs have become a daily reality across the country.  Many of us have been affected by a layoff either directly or indirectly or know someone personally who has lost his or her job.  While browsing a message board pertaining to the company for which I work, I came across something written by a former employee which I feel is absolute truth, a silver lining in the clouds (edited for clarity, anonymity and emphasis):

"Approaching Storm Clouds" by Intrepid Lady @ Flickr“As someone who [has been laid off], this is a note to the ones who are being let go now.

Life goes on.  It is TOO easy to measure your self-worth in this world by your job.  You have [some time of feeling disoriented,] but after that, your sails will fill again and you will be off in a different direction.

As for myself, I have been meaning for years to start my own business and this shove towards that has been a good thing. If this didn’t happen, then I may have never done it.  I am taking this opportunity to build something long term for myself and my family that has nothing to do with the cozy interior of a big company.  I have not felt this alive in many years.  I would be lying if I said it was easy, because it is not.  But that is where the juice comes from; taking a chance, believing in yourself.

Re-invent yourself and go forward.  There is something better on the other side of the next door.  I promise.”

For those of us who are facing the potential of losing our jobs in the very near future, it is hard to imagine such a positive future from something so seemingly devastating as a job loss.  I do feel that there will be a sense of insecurity and fear when the next layoff is announced, but it isn’t the end of the world.  Life will go on and it may have been for the better.

Filed under Employment, Hope, Potential

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